The Medieval Tools and Weapons
The hightest density of small finds from the Tigranakert excavations consist of medieval metal objects found mainly in the Central Quarter. Some artifacts were also found in the upper layers of the Fortified Quarter. Most of the metal finds are made of iron, with a certain number of copper and bronze.
Among the iron objects found in the excavations of the dwelling-economic complexes of Tigranakert’s Central Quarter, the four iron spades stand out. This is, the largest group of tilling tools found in an excavation in Armenia. All four excavated examples are ploughshares (dating to the 10th-11th and 12th-13th centuries), which were made for working the relatively loose soil of the steppe (Figs. 1, 2).
Many of iron objects found in the Tigranakert excavations are sickles. One of them is small in size, has a pronounced curvature, and is tapered to fit into a wooden or bone handle. For iron objects, the two dough scrapers should be highlighted. These were used for cutting dough, scraping the kneading trough after making the dough, and (in the case of the longer ones) removing the bread from the tonir, a traditional Armenian underground oven (Fig. 3). The chopping knives found in the excavations were intended for cutting wild bushes and gardening (Fig. 4).
A significant number of iron objects are knives and their various fragments. Some of the complete knives have preserved their tails (Fig. 5). It is possible that some of the knives were daggers.
Horseshoes of oxen, donkeys, and horses make up a large number of iron objects (Fig. 6). Among the iron objects, there are many nails, of which the ones with short tails and wide heads were mainly used for shoeing horses (Fig. 7). There are also a large number of nails and rivets used for other purposes, varying in size and head.
Interesting are the iron rods of different sizes and their separate parts found in the excavations of the Central Quarter, which had multiple uses in the medieval economy. Judging by the length, thickness, and hole in the top of some of the rods, some of the complete rods are parts of various piercing tools that were used in the manufacture of leather goods as well as weapons.
The Stone Tools
Many large and small whetstones were found in the excavations. The largest of these were intended for sharpening sickles and scythes. The smaller ones were used to sharpen smaller tools: knives, small sickles, and daggers. They are quite worn as a result of prolonged use. The whetstones are made from various types of hard local stones. Most of them are slightly oval at one end, narrower at the opposite end, and have a hole for hanging from a belt (Fig. 8).
In the excavations of the dwelling-economic complexes of the central quarter of Tigranakert, a large number of sharp stones of various shapes and sizes were found, some of which may have been attached to the threshing sledge.
Stone tools for grain processing have also been found. In particular, the excavations uncovered millstones and mills of different shapes and sizes (Fig. 9).
Additionally, many basalt and limestone mortars were found, which were intended for grinding grain and nuts. The bottom of almost all the mortars is worn from long use and rarely punctured.
Loom weights make up a certain portion of artifacts. They are made of stone and unfired clay. Usually, such loom weights were used on the vertical loom of the weaver. Potter’s stone grinders were also found, with the help of which the surface of clay vessels was polished to produce a shimmering surface.
Weapons
The collection of weapons found in the excavations is quite modest. The almost completely preserved iron sword stands out (Fig. 10). The sword is solid, single-edged, and the reverse side is blunt, giving the sword the necessary strength. It is possible that some of the long knives found in the excavations were daggers.
Among the weapons, particularly notable is a complete spearhead from the excavations of the Central Quarter (Fig. 11), dating to the 5th-7th centuries. It is flat, leaf-shaped, with a pronounced central cylindrical axis. The hilt is about three times longer than the blade, indicating that the guard was attached to a very long tail. It is not excluded that such spears were used by mounted warriors, as we see in the khachkar carvings of the 12th–13th centuries of Artsakh (Fig. 12).
Among the iron objects, the horse bridle with a hole at the end for connection to other parts of the chariot is noteworthy.
Arrows were also found in the medieval layers of Tigranakert, which are divided into several groups according to the arrowheads, external shape, and cut (Fig. 13).
Finally, there are also small and medium-sized catapult boulders (Fig. 14), which were found mainly in the Central Quarter. We also have accumulations of catapult stones of different sizes in the Fortified Quarter of Tigranakert. Some of the smaller stones were probably sling stones.
